How to Make Fabric Butterflies
Transform simple circles of fabric into a beautiful butterfly. You only need twine and cotton fabric to make this fabric butterfly craft, so they're really easy to make!
Yield: 1 fabric butterfly
Cost: $1
Materials
- FREE Printable Fabric Butterflies Pattern
- Cotton fabric (colour or pattern of choice)
- Twine
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut out the pattern pieces
- Print our free fabric butterflies pattern (find the link in the materials list above!) and cut out the circles.
- Pin the pattern pieces on top of the material and cut them out.You can also trace around the template with chalk or a pencil.
Step 3: Fold the circles in half and sew together
- Fold the larger circle of fabric in half, with the pattern (good side) inside.Line up the edges and insert a sewing pin or two to keep the fold in place.
- Repeat, folding and pinning the second circle.
- Sew along the curved edge of the folded circle, leaving about 1/4 inch seam allowance.Leave a 1 to 2 inch space unsewn in the top center.
- Here you can see the half circle sewn together with the gap in the middle. This will allow you to turn the piece right side out.
- Use your fingers or a loop turner hook to turn the half circle right side out.
- Repeat, sewing the smaller circle in the same way and also turning it right side out.
- Sew the open edges closed, as close to the edge as possible. Don't worry about the stitches showing; they'll be hidden in the next few steps.
- Set the half circles down in front of you with the curved parts in the middle. The larger semi-circle should be at the top.
Step 4: Gather the fabric together
- Gather the top semi-circle together using an accordion fold.
- Push the smaller semi-circle up against the larger one and accordion fold it as well, holding the two pieces together.
- Keep the fabric pinched together in the center, allowing the sides to open up. You should start to see the butterfly shape!
Step 5: Tie the center of the butterfly
- Cut an 8 inch piece of twine and begin wrapping it around the pinched middle of the butterfly.Leave a couple inches loose on one end and then wrap the longer part of the twine around 2 to 3 times.
- Cut a 4 inch piece of twine and place it horizontally, with the center above the wrapped twine.
- Wrap the first twine around the center of the butterfly another 2 to 3 times, this time including the 4 inch twine in the bundle.
- Tie the two ends of the 8 inch twine into a double knot at the back of the butterfly.
- Adjust the 4 inch twine to make sure the ends are even. Then tie a small knot at the end of each "antenna" to stop the twine from unraveling.
- Your fabric butterfly is complete!
Video
Notes
Looking for more easy butterfly crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Plastic Bottle Butterfly Craft
Coffee Filter Butterflies
Flapping Butterfly Craft